Arch support forming fixture



July 24, 1962 c. E. MENSING ARCH SUPPORT FORMING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1959 Eng Inventor [3 Clifford E Mens 5 fifinn VM zq-l'lornegws July 24, 1962 c. E. MENSING 3,045,266

ARCH SUPPORT FORMING FIXTURE Filed Nov. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenior Cfifforfl. E Men.

sing/ United States Patent O 3,045,266 ARCH SUPPORT FORMING FIXTURE Clilford Mensing, 102 N. Hubbard, Algonquin, Ill. Filed Nov. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 852,132 8 Claims. (Cl. 12--1) The present invention relates to a fixeure for use in forming arch supports or the like.

In making special footwear, or parts for inserts for shoes, for individuals having difliculties with their feet, it is the practice of a podiatrist to make a cast of the foot of the individual being treated. This cast, usually made of plaster, is what may be termed a negative cast in that the hollow interior conforms to the shape of the foot but the physical structure of the cast is not a duplicate of the actual foot conformation. From this negative cast a positive cast is made by filling the hollow interior of the negative cast with a suitable material, again usually a plaster compound. This positive cast is then used to shape a piece of leather to the conformation of the portion of the foot for which a special fitting is desired, usually the bottom of the foot. The shaped piece of leather is then employed either in the manufacture of a shoe or a shoe insert, such as an arch support.

The procedure commonly utilized today is to water-soak the piece of leather which is to be molded about the cast. When the leather is thoroughly soaked it is placed across the area of the cast, which area is the portion of the foot to which the podiatrist desires the leather to conform. The cast with the leather thereon is then tightly wrapped with a multitude of turns of a length of gauze or the like. This gauze holds the leather against the cast so that the leather takes the shape of the area of the cast against which it is positioned. When the leather dries it assumes a self-sustaining shape conforming to that of the cast about which it is molded.

The wrapping of the cast with the leather thereon is a slow, tedious process. It must be carefully done so as not to disturb the desired position of the leather on the cast. Furthermore, the wrapping must be drawn extremely tight as it is placed about the cast and leather so as to securely hold the leather against the cast and insure that all portions of the leather will dry to the exact shape defined by the cast. In some instances this molding of the leather is performed by the podiatrist. However, in many instances the podiatrist will send the cast to an outside establishment which provides the service of molding the leather to the cast. The podiatrist does this because of the time that it takes him to perform the process, which time he feels is not economically justified. At the same time he recognizes that there are disadvantages in having others mold the leather for him. Such disadvantages include: shipment times; the necessity for carefully packing the cast to prevent its being broken in shipment; and

the difiiculty encountered in many instances of communicating to others the exact portion of the cast to which the leather is to conform.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a fixture by which a podiatrist, or others for that matter, may quickly and simply conform' the soaked leather to be molded to a cast and hold it securely in that position for the period of time required for the leather to dry. Because of the speed and simplicity, this fixture enables a podiatrist to do his own leather molding without substantial loss of his time and enables him to dispense with utilizing the services of others to perform this service.

Other objects and advantages include: the simplicity of the structures of my invention which permit the fixtures to be produced and sold at a relatively nominal cost; the substantial nonexistence of wear and tear, and the lack of necessity for servicing and parts replacement; the fact that with the use of my invention it is most simple to accurately position the soaked leather on the cast, and the lack of tendency to displace the leather as it is being locked in place against the cast; and the fact that the soaked leather will dry faster than is true in the prior art practices where the leather is insulated from the air by numerous layers of the bandage wrapping.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation partially broken away of the embodiment of FIGURE 1 as viewed from the right end of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the web engaging clips illustrated in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of a second embodiment;

FIGURE 5 is a partial side elevation of the embodimerit of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an end sectional view of a third embodiment; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a positive cast with a leather arch support molded thereto.

Referring to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, the fixture includes a frame generally 10. This frame is comprised of a pair of end members 11 and 12 connected by a pair of cross, supporting members 13 and 14. Cross members 13 and 14 are received in correspondingly sized openings in end members 11 and 12 and secured therein by pins or rivets 15. Secured to the top of support members 13 and 14 are a pair of resilient pads 16 and 17. End members 11 and 12 are provided with bosses 18 at the bottom thereof, which bosses have an opening 19 therethrough to facilitate the mounting of the fixture.

Along the lower portion of both of the sides of each of end members 11 and 12 are a plurality of slots 23. As best seen in FIGURE 2, these slots extend at a slight downward angle. The pairs of slots on each side of the fixture receive a crossbar 24. Thus, each of crossbars 24 may be engaged in corresponding slots at one side of end members 11 and 12. With an upward pull on bars 24, the bars are securely locked in place because of the downward angle of slots 23. At the same time a downward pressure on bars 24 will disengage the bar from the slots. Each of crossbars 24 is provided with a handle 25 at one end thereof. The other end of each of bars 24 may be provided, if desired, with a cap 26 so that in placing bars 24 in slots 23 one can insure that the end of the bar 24 adjacent cap 26 is fully within the slot 23 in the corresponding end member.

A plurality of webs 28, which may be of a canvas cloth or the like, are employed to hold the leather about the cast. Each of these webs 28 is in the form of a strap; that is, it is substantially longer than is its width. For most embodiments three webs 28 will be sufficient. In such a case the webs are about one and one-half to two and one-half inches wide. The two end portions 29 and 30 of each web 28 are engaged with a spring clip generally 31. Clip 31 is in turn connected by a spring 32 to one of crossbars 24.

The form of clip 31 illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 is particularly advantages for this fixture inasmuch as it greatly facilitates the mounting of the leather on the mold. As will 'be seen, the clip 31 is formed of a continuous length of spring wire having sufficient turns so as to form four connected top members 35, 36, 37 and 38. In the illustrated embodiment this is approximately three and one-half turns of wire. Top members 35-38 are long enough so as to receive the width of webs 28 without a folding or bunching of the web on the clip. The lower end 3 f the turns that form the clip narrow down to apices 40-42 to receive springs 32 and center the springs with respect to the elongated top members 35-38.

As illustrated in the drawings, each side portion of web 28 is engaged by a pair of the top members, the pairs being members 35-36 and 3738, respectively. Each side portion is looped about the outside member, 35 and 38, respectively, with the double thickness of web 28 adjacent that loop passing under the inner top members, 36 and 37, respectively. Thus, as tension is put on the web 28, each side portion of the web will draw the two top members of a pair about which it is looped together to aid in locking the side portions of the web on the clip 31. At the same time a web may be individually tensioned by pulling upwardly on one or both end portions 29 or 30 of the web.

As hereinbefore explained, the fixture is used to mold a soaked piece of leather such as that illustrated at 45 to the shape defined by a plaster cast 46 of a patients foot. FIGURE 7 illustrates such a piece of leather being molded to form a fitted arch support. In this case the leather is cut so that it extends down around the arch area 47 of the cast. After the positive cast is made and the leather to be molded thereto is soaked, the cast 46 with the leather 45 thereon is slipped under webs 28 and positioned on resilient pad 16. At this time the crossbar 24 will be disengaged from slots 23, thus enabling the cast to quickly and easily be put into position and the leather properly aligned thereon. At the same time the webs 28 will be aligned over the leather making sure that all of the leather, or the important portions thereof, to be molded is substantially covered by the webs.

The crossbar 24 is then engaged with a pair of aligned slots 23 in end members 11 and 12. A respective pair of slots is chosen that will apply tension to springs 32 when the crossbar 24 is fully engaged in the slots. This initial tensioning can easily be obtained utilizing only one hand by first hooking the end of bar 24 adjacent cap 26 in a slot at a suitable level and thereafter pressing down on handle 25 to tension springs 32 until the corresponding slot in the other end member is engaged by bar 24. The individuals other hand can be used to hold mold 46 and straps 23 in place to avoid disturbing the alignment of the leather 45 or webs 28 thereon.

If additional tensioning of an individual one of the webs is needed, this may be achieved by pulling up on one or both of end portions 29 or 30 of that web. In some instances one side of a web 28 needs to be tensioned more than the opposite side of that web. For example, referring to FIGURE 1, if the leather 45 was to be moi-dad somewhat around the heel portion of the foot form 46, the right hand side of the right hand web in FIGURE 1 could be positioned partially around the heel portion and that right hand edge of the web 28 shortened with respect to the left hand edge of the web. This would be done by pulling up on the right hand corners of the end portions of web 28 in FIGURE 1, thereby engaging the web 28 in clips 31 at an angle so as to shorten the right hand edge of the web as compared to the left hand edge of the web.

The webs 28, all having been drawn tightly about the leather and mold, will cause the leather to conform accurately to the shape of the mold. As is apparent from FIGURE 2, the two side portions of the webs 28 extend inwardly from mold 46 to clip 31. This insures that the leather will be drawn about the sides of the mold as well as about the top of the mold. As compared to prior art practices, the leather will dry relatively rapidly because of being covered only by a single layer of webbing. When the leather is fully dried a simple downward pressure on handle 25 will disengage crossbar 24 from one of the end members, i.e. member 12 in FIGURE 1, after which the crossbar 24 is easily disengaged from the other end member, i.e. member 11 in FIGURE 1. With crossbar 24 disengaged the mold 46 and leather 45 are easily removed from beneath webs 28.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment wherein a pair of end members 50 are connected by a center plate 51 and a base 52. At the top of end members 50 are a pair of circular openings in which are received a pair of top support members 53 and 54. Immediately above base 52 a similar pair of cross members 55 and 56 are received in openings in end members 50. Each of members 53-56 are held in place by set screws 57 threaded into end members 50.

To support cast 46 a plurality of resilient blocks 60 are received on support members 53 and 54. As will be seen in FIGURE 4, blocks 60 have a relatively fiat top on which cast 46 is positioned.

A plurality of webs 61 extend up over the cast 46 supported on blocks 60 and are connected to a wire bale 62 of a tensioning means generally 63. Webs 61 in this embodiment are in the form of a continuous strap of canvas or the like.

Each tensioning means 63 includes a center plate 64 having an opening near the bottom thereof through which extends one of cross members 55 or 56 (depending upon which side the tensioning means is located). Attached to center plate 64 are a pair of outer plates 65. The front edges of outer plates 65 extend beyond the front edge of inner plate 64 (in the area of approximately the upper half of plate 64) with these edges of outer plate 65 being provided with a plurality of generally U shaped recesses 66. A handle 67 has a pair of side plates 68 and 69 which are spaced to fit about the outside of outer plates 65. Between side plates 68 and 69 is a pin or rivet 70 which is of a size to be received in recesses 66. The two ends of bale 62 are received in openings in side plates 68 and 69 which openings are eccentrically positioned with respect to pin 70. A flat spring 71 has its ends secured to pins 72 extending between outer plates 65 with the spring being looped over pin 70 in handle 67 between side plates 68 and 69. Thus, spring 71 permits handle 67 to be moved outwardly to disengage pin 70 from a specific pair of recesses 66 and allows the pin to be adjusted to different heights and seated in an appropriate pair of recesses 66 in plates 65 while at the same time prevents the handle 67 from being completely removed from plates 65.

It will be apparent that the mounting of the bale 62 in relation to the pivot point of handle 67 as defined by pin 70 forms a toggle which is locked in position when the handle 67 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 because of the toggle having been moved across center. As handle 67 is pivoted outwardly from the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 the tension on web 61 is released, .and with all of the webs released, cast 46 with the leather thereon may be moved in or out of the space surrounded by webs 61. When the cast 46 with the wet leather thereon is moved into that space, handle 67 is adusted to an appropriate height by moving pin 70 along the recesses 66 and thereafter handle 67 is pivoted downwardly to draw bale 62 down and tension web 61. Each of the tensioning means 63 is independently adjustable as to height and the tension applied to its respective web 61.

A third embodiment is illustrated in FIGURE 6. In this embodiment a pair of end plates 75 are connected by supporting bars 76 received in rectilinear openings in plates 75 and held in place by set screws 77. Attached to the upper surface of support bars 76 are resilient pads 78 used to position cast 46 thereon. A plurality of webs 79 pass about cast 46 and are attached to a tensioning means generally 80.

The tensioning means'80 includes a thumb bolt 81 having an operating wheel 82 of a shape to be readily grasped by the fingers or hand. A tensioning block 83 is threadedly received on bolt 81 and carries an inner web holding plate 84. The ends of web 79 are grasped between inner holding plate 84 and a mating outer web holding plate 85. The two plates are drawn together by screws 86 which pass through openings in outer plate 85 and are threaded into inner plate 84.

An opening 87 in the bottom of support member 76 is slightly larger than bolt 81 so that the bolt may extend therethroughi The sides of the opening act as a guide to align bolt 81 in a position normal to the longitudinal length of support member 76. A small centering recess 88 on the inside upper wall of support member 76 provides a seat for the end of bolt 81 and aids in the vertical alignment of the bolt. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that by rotating handle wheel 82, tensioning block 83 will be moved up or down on bolt 81, depending upon the direction of rotation. Of course, if there is any tendency of block 83 to turn, this should be resisted by grasping the plates 84 and 85 with the hand other than that which is turning wheel 82. The

movement of block 83 downwardly will tighten web 7? While the raising of the block will. slacken the web to permit the insertion or removal of mold 46 and leather 45.

The foregoing description of specific embodiments is for the purpose of complying with 35 USC 112 and should not be construed as imposing unnecessary limitations on the appended claims inasmuch as modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description.

I claim:

1. An arch support forming fixture for use in molding leather or the like to the shape of a mold, said fixture comprising: a frame; a member on said frame to support said mold; a plurality of elongated webs passing over the top of the mold on the said member and having portions extending down about both sides thereof, said webs being in juxtaposition along at least a portion of the length of the mold; and an individual tensioning means for each of said webs, each tensioning means including means to engage the downwardly extending portions at a level below that of the mold with the portions closer together at that level than is the part of the web about the mold, said tensioning means being adapted to releasably tension each web longitudinally thereof.

2. An arch support forming fixture for use in molding leather or the like to the shape of a mold, said fixture comprising: a frame; a member on said frame to support said mold; a plurality of elongated webs passing over the top of the mold on the said member and having portions extending down about both sides thereof, said webs being in juxtaposition along at least a portion of the length of the mold; a relatively rigid engaging member for each of the webs, each engaging member having a horizontal web engaging portion to receive and hold said portions of the web flat; and means connected to each engaging member and to the frame to longitudinally tension the web engaged therewith.

3. An arch support forming fixture for use in molding leather or the like to the shape of a mold, said fixture comprising: a frame, said frame including a longitudinal bar narrower in width than the width of the mold; resilient pad means mounted on the bar to support the mold generally parallel to the bar; a plurality of elongated webs extending around the bar and mold and having' portions extending generally normal to said bar at opposite sides thereof, said webs being in juxtaposition along the length of the mold; and a tensioning means engaging said portions of said webs and tensioning said webs in a direction generally normal to said bar, said tensioning means being adapted to pull said webs inwardly against at least a portion of the mold.

4. An arch support forming fixture for use inmolding leather or the like to the shape of a mold, said fixture comprising: a frame, said frame including a longitudinal bar narrower in width than the width of the mold; resilient pad means mounted on the bar to support the mold generally parallel to the bar; a plurality of elongated webs extending around the bar and mold and having portions extending generally normal to said bar at opposite sides thereof, said webs being in juxtaposition along the length of the mold; a Wire-like loop means for each of said webs and engaging said portions of the web, said loop means having a relatively flat surface at the part thereof adjacent the pad to hold the portions of the web engaged therewith flat across the width ofthe web; and a means engaging each loop means and the frame to releasably tension the Web between said portions.

5. An arch support forming fixture for use in molding leather or the like to the shape of a mold, said fixture comprising: a frame, said frame including a longitudinal bar narrower in Width than the width of the mold; resilient pad means mounted on the bar to support the mold generally parallel to the bar; a plurality of elongated webs extending around the bar and mold and having portions extending generally normal to said bar at opposite sides thereof, said webs being in juxtaposition along the length of the mold; a wire-like loop means for each of said webs and engaging said portions of the web, said loop means comprising four web engaging members of the Width of the Web and formed of a continuous length of spring wire, each web portion being connected to two adjacent engaging members respectively by extending in a loop about one member with both ends of the loop passing about the side of the adjacent member farthest from said mold; and a means engaging each loop means and the frame to releasably tension the web between said portions.

6. An arch support forming fixture for use in molding leather or the like to the shape of a mold, said fixture comprising: a frame, said frame including a longitudinal bar narrower in width than the width of the mold; resilient pad means mounted on the bar to support the mold generally parallel to the bar; a plurality of elongated webs extending around the bar and mold and having portions extending generally normal to said bar at opposite sides thereof, said webs being in juxtaposition along the length of the mold; a wire-like loop means for each of said webs and engaging said portions of the web, said loop means comprising four web engaging members of the width of the web and formed of a continuous length of spring wire, said wire forming centering apices opposite said engaging members, each web portion being connected to two adjacent engaging members respectively by extending in a loop about one member with both ends of the loop passing about the side of the adjacent member farthest from said mold; a spring having one end connected to said apices; and means connected to the other end of the spring and engageable with said frame at a series of different distances from said mold, whereby the spring may be tensioned for various sizes of molds.

7. An arch support forming fixture for use in molding leather or the like to the shape of a mold, said fixture comprising: a frame, said frame including a longitudinal bar narrower in Width than the width of the mold; resilient pad means mounted on the bar to support the mold generally parallel to the bar; a plurality .of elongated webs extending around the bar and mold and having along the length of the mold; a wire-like loop means for each of said webs and engaging said portions of the web, said 'loop means having a relatively flat surface at the part thereof adjacent the pad to hold the portions of the Web engaged therewith fiat across the width of the web; and means connected to the loop means and engageable with said frame at a series of points spaced at various distances from the mold and including a toggle joint to tension the webs.

8. An arch support forming fixture for use in molding leather or the like to the shape of a mold, said fixture comprising: a frame, said frame including a longitudinal bar narrower in width than the width of the mold; resilient pad means mounted on the bar to support the mold generally parallel to the bar; a plurality of elongated webs extending around the bar and mold and having portions extending generally normal to said bar at opposite sides thereof, said webs being in juxtaposition along the length of the mold; a web tensioning member for each Web and attached to each of the two portions of the respective Webs, said tensioning member having a threaded opening extending generally normal to said bar; a thumb bolt threadedly received in said opening and abutting a portion of said bar; and guide means on said bar to align said bolt generally normal to said bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 728,206 Crafts May 19, 1903 988,617 Bair Apr. 4, 1911 2,183,052 Sundberg Dec. 12, 1939 10 2,558,690 Nile June 26, 1951 2,799,873 Harrington July 23, 1957 

